Looking for the perfect date this Saturday night? Take the quiz to find out how you should spend this V-Day, whether you’re celebrating with that special someone, or your cat (no judgement zone!). V-Day only comes once a year, so why not make it as unique as you are?

One trend that we’re really into this season is the men’s Jogger pant. At AEO, we’ve combined style and comfort into a relaxed fit pant with a drawstring waist and cuffed bottoms. The Jogger has become the quintessential staple for athlesiure wear and we’re not stopping there. We’ve added cargo pockets for practical comfort that you’ll want to buy in every color. We challenged menswear blogger, Roderick from Uniform Journal to style our Cargo Jogger and the outcome was well received. Get to know the LA based blogger and his #AEOSTYLE below.

Meet Roderick:
Hi everyone! I’m a fashion blogger based in Los Angeles, CA. I’ve worked for multiple fashion brands specializing in visual merchandising and styling. I’m passionate about fashion, photography, and writing. Another thing you’ll note is that I’m constantly editing my personal style and blogging allows me to instantly share all of my interests with the world.

What Inspired Roderick’s Look:
Weekends should be comfortable, and these joggers are like sweatpants in disguise. The cargo pockets scream military, so the first thing I grabbed was my military shirt. Then I added a striped tee to bring it all together. The end result was a casual outfit that allowed me to move freely throughout my day.

We’re always looking for a quick and simple hair DIY for the weekend! With Valentine’s Day just around the corner we’re opting for a reverse french braid. We asked our studio hair stylist, Julie M. to give us the inside scoop. Follow her tips below to learn how to style a reverse french braid like a pro in no time!

Step 1: Untangle any knots to make braiding easier.

Step 2: Divide a section on top of your head into 3 equal strands. You can start at the very top or if you have bangs or front pieces you want out, start a little further back leaving those out.

Step 3: To establish a secure braid, start by taking right section and go underneath the center strand and pull it to the middle.

Step 4: Now take the other end strand and go underneath to the middle.

Step 5: Do this one more time with the other end strand, going underneath to the middle.

Step 6: Now it’s time to start pulling additional hair from the sides. Like a typical french braid, start pulling equal slices of hair on each side of the head, adding it to the outer strand and taking it to the center…but instead of going overtop the center strand, take everything underneath.

Keep repeating from side to side, taking equal sections of hair from sides of head and taking it underneath the center strand. This creates a braid that sits on top of the head rather than underneath.

Step 7: When you reach the nape of the neck, do a traditional three strand braid to the bottom.

It’s just before 7pm as the three of us watch the larger-than-life burnt orange African sun set on the edge of the Ngong Hills. Each of us covered head to toe in the deep red dirt of the Great Rift Valley, smiling from ear to ear and drinking down an ice cold Tusker beer. It’s been one of those days when you’ve worked so hard that your brain hurts and your body aches yet your face is shining because of the deep satisfaction from the day.

Just over a decade ago I purchased a one-way ticket to Kenya. I had no idea when I got on that plane just how much the people of Kenya would change my life and what that change would create for many others. I knew very little about Africa then and about the world of international development. I was just a kid from Texas recently graduated from the University of Kansas with a heart on fire wanting to know more about my purpose in life, who I was, and where I fit in the world.

I am so grateful that I did jump on that plane, despite the well intentioned wisdom of so many who kept telling me to go to medical school first and then go help the people in Africa. I am thankful that I was too ignorant or stubborn or whatever it was to get on that plane. As a result I quickly realized it wasn’t about my helping the people of Africa, or about the people of Africa helping me, but about us learning how to love and appreciate one another. During that year of living in Kenya my understanding of the world broke wide open and for the first time I realized how intertwined our lives are to one another, even those we may never meet. My heart was shattered in such a beautiful way that I expanded and began to see how much I had to learn from my new friends and family in Kenya. For the first time I began to know the abundance of LOVE.

And that brings us to the present moment, drinking a few Tusker beers, watching the sun set after a long day in the Kenyan wilderness overseeing the creation of our new product, the LOVE bracelet. Jeremiah, Jim and I had just spent the day visiting the 10 Maasai community groups totaling more than 400 women who had recently been employed as artisans through our collaboration with American Eagle Outfitters (AEO). It was one of those work days that you couldn’t possibly dream up even if you tried. Three friends meeting with more than 400 Maasai artisans, talking with them about life, about what it means to them to hand-stitch LOVE each day with their friends as they sit under acacia trees near their homes.

The LOVE bracelet was designed by my friend, Chrissie Lam, during a collaborative trip to Kenya with our fashion brand, LIFE Line. We had been in partnership for a few years and wanted to partner on a product that would continue to empower the people of Kenya through job creation. One of the key elements I have learned over the past decade is that much harm has been done in Africa under the intentions of doing good. The reason for this is that much of the Western worlds efforts to “help” Africa actually perpetuates a culture of dependency where African communities literally wait on Western aid to “help” them rather than give them opportunities to live empowered lives. I have found that the best way to do this is by creating jobs where people are able to take control of their own lives by becoming business men and women providing for their families just like any of us here in the West want for our own families.

I couldn’t be more excited about our latest partnership with American Eagle Outfitters and the launch of the LOVE bracelet. Over the last 3 months during the production of the LOVE bracelet AEO has empowered LIFE Line to create more than 400 jobs for Maasai women in the Great Rift Valley. Not only have we created jobs, but the Maasai women have made these beautiful bracelets through their ancient tradition of beading under acacia trees near their homes. These products were not made in a factory. They were literally hand-stitched under acacia trees by women community groups gathered in love to stitch LOVE for you!

Together, we have empowered these women to earn a living, care for their children, and provide for their households. It puts a smile on their faces as they wake up, walk with their community of women to live into purpose-filled work of a quality product. Their efforts also connect us here in America to a powerful story of LOVE that we then get to share via the hashtag, #loveisproject.

As the three of us sat there watching the sun go down we all smiled knowing that such a product handcrafted in the African wilderness would soon be front in center in the 1,000 American Eagle Outfitters stores across America. What an incredible feeling and what an amazing collaboration between The Supply Change, LIFE Line and American Eagle Outfitters to believe in something greater than ourselves and to live that belief out loud across the world through LOVE. I hope you enjoy the LOVE bracelet and ask that you please share the love via the hashtag #loveisproject. Thanks to everyone for doing your part to open this door, including our personal TRIBE and the original #loveisproject backers, for believing in us and for seeing the opportunities created when we leverage the influence of fashion to empower lives though job creation.

I worked in Concept Design for American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) just shy of a decade. It was an incredible job, allowing me to travel the world, searching for the coolest trends. In 2008, AEO supported my efforts during a 3 month sabbatical volunteering in Rwanda. That trip inspired me to follow my passion to merge design and international development. In June of 2012, I left AEO to start The Supply Change, an initiative that connects artisan groups with brands and creates products for collaborations. Everything has come full circle with AEO’s partnership of the Love bracelet I designed for Lifeline Fashion in Kenya. I couldn’t be happier.

Love is proportional to your will. It is an axiom.” The #loveisproject is a true testament to that and the exponential power of love. The dream is now a reality.

In April of 2013, I visited LIFE Line’s Maasai mums in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley to design new products. Finding myself inspired by the vibrant colors and patterns of the tribe, we developed an idea to design a simple and bold message bracelet in their traditional beading.

Just over a year later, with the LOVE bracelet in hand on a flight to Russia, I struck up a conversation with two perfect strangers, girls from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. On a whim, I asked them about love. Upon landing at the Moscow airport, inspired by their answers, I snapped and uploaded a photo of them wearing the LOVE Bracelet to Instagram. The #loveisproject had begun. Coincidentally, one of the girls, Shahlo (pictured below), wore American Eagle denim.

Four months and 31 countries later, 330 people representing 75 nationalities have worn the first LOVE bracelet. Using social media to link their love stories together, what started as a personal passion project began to blossom into a global movement of love.

On my quest across the world searching for the meaning of love, tumultuous world events have unfolded simultaneously, juxtaposing two passionate energies, love and hate. The profiles of people from the #loveisproject give voice to positivity rather than to the minority extremists dominating headlines.

To see more of Chrissie’s inspirational images of her journey around the world check out her instagram page @thesupplychange

I’m so thankful for American Eagle Outfitters’ support and partnership in launching the #loveisproject this Valentine’s Day. AEO is the largest employer of Maasai in Kenya through this collaboration, creating hundred of jobs and in turn supporting thousands in the community through economic empowerment.

I’m grateful for my friend, Zane Wilemon, Founder of LIFE Line, and the LIFE Line team who ran a stellar Indiegogo campaign raising more than $33,000 with bracelets purchased in 30 countries. Love is a shared purpose – achieving things together that you never thought were possible. This is just the beginning. Let’s celebrate Love every single day. Please join us in creating the Greatest Love Story Ever Told. May the stories of love inspire you as they have inspired us. Dream on.​

This month, we’re feeling the love at American Eagle Outiffers. So much in fact that we’ve included a special playlist featuring some of our favorite Valentine’s Day themed songs. Head to stores from 2.7-2.14 to hear our latest playlist live and be sure to follow us on Spotify to access all of our seasonal playlists. What are your favorite V-day inspired songs? Tell us in the comments below.